Directory facts
- Title
- University of Edinburgh
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Official website
- ed.ac.uk
University of Edinburgh: Academic writing
Edinburgh’s academic-writing hub presents writing as a process of planning, drafting and revision. Its resources cover assignment briefs, directive words, paragraph development, argument and different forms of academic writing. The guidance highlights the importance of course instructions because conventions vary by subject. Choose a resource for the stage you are working on, then compare your draft with the actual assessment criteria.
Learn something useful
Turn the marking criteria into a revision checklist. For each criterion, mark a specific place in the draft that demonstrates it; if you cannot find one, identify the revision needed.
Turn the question into an argument
Identify the task word, topic boundaries, audience and deadline before drafting. Write a provisional answer that a reader could reasonably challenge. Divide it into claims, then connect each claim to evidence you have read. Record page numbers and source details while researching. Adjust your argument when the evidence calls for it.
Use sources and tools responsibly
Confirm the required citation style with your course. A reference manager can organize sources, but verify authors, titles, dates and links yourself. Check the applicable AI policy before using an assistant. Keep a record of permitted assistance and acknowledge it when required. An AI detector score is not proof of authorship or misconduct.
Revise and choose useful support
Read the draft for reasoning before correcting sentences. Summarize each paragraph to test its purpose and sequence. Consult your university library or writing centre first. If hiring a service, choose feedback, tutoring or permitted proofreading, clarify the scope and privacy terms, and keep responsibility for the final work.
Free resources
University of Edinburgh: Academic writingSources
Hipo University Domains and Names Data List · MIT · 2026-11-07. Sources